(Topic ID: 215281)
2 months later
I've written up some of the technical backstory of incorporating working EM pinball machines into the stage production here: www.funwithpinball.com/resources/the-whos-tommy-part-2
/Mark
Mesquite, NV
Fascinating reading. I bet you had a lot of fun doing this for DCPA.
How did you learn so much about electromechanicals? What is the best way to learn them and to understand schematics like you do?
Quoted from PinballFever:How did you learn so much about electromechanicals? What is the best way to learn them and to understand schematics like you do?
I'm not sure how to answer that. It helps to have restored (not just repaired) a few games. Going through each device, taking it apart, cleaning it & putting it back together gives you the opportunity to study how it works. Like anything else I suppose if you dig in a little and try to understand *how* it works rather than just *whether* it works you come away with a little more intuition and insight.
If you're more comfortable learning online there are lots of good options including the regular troubleshooting threads over in the EM sub forums:
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/forum/electro-mechanical
Read a few of the threads and see if you can follow along with the issues and diagnoses. I think that's an often overlooked learning opportunity. If you don't understand something, ask for clarification. That'll only make the thread more useful in the long run.
Other good online options include:
Clay's site: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index.htm
Steve Fury's thread: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/em-pinball-circuits-basics-to-not-so-basic
r.g.p has slowed down a fair bit since pinside, but there's still lots of good searchable info there:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/rec.games.pinball
My site: http://funwithpinball.com/small-boards or http://funwithpinball.com/learn
I'm sure there are others.
The last best option might be to find someone to mentor you. I've been contemplating putting together a class but haven't sussed out the details yet.
/Mark
Quoted from MarkG:https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/forum/electro-mechanical
Read a few of the threads and see if you can follow along with the issues and diagnoses. I think that's an often overlooked learning opportunity. If you don't understand something, ask for clarification. That'll only make the thread more useful in the long run.
I've been trying to do this but it's difficult for me to follow along when I read something like, "reset relay trips, the 100k light doesn't come on" without seeing it in real life.
Quoted from MarkG:Clay's site: http://www.pinrepair.com/em/index.htm
Steve Fury's thread: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/em-pinball-circuits-basics-to-not-so-basic
I've read Clay's pinrepair site more times than I can count and also Steve Fury's thread several times along with your fun with pinball site but again it's easier in real life than reading it.
Quoted from MarkG:The last best option might be to find someone to mentor you. I've been contemplating putting together a class but haven't sussed out the details yet.
I've been thinking the same thing. I think it would be easier to watch someone else troubleshoot issues and read schematics and I may know one or two local guys who would be willing to do this for me.
Bruce
I also think that it's easier to learn how a working game's reset and other functions work vs a non working game.
(Luckily I have two examples of the same game that I can use as a reference while working on one or the other)
I found some animated videos from Steve Fury that are very helpful. The videos of the working mechanical parts are inserted into shots of the schematic with animations/highlighting showing the switches and circuits being used.
Maybe you can do something similiar with your fun with pinball website?
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/williams-4-player-reset-sequence-animation#post-4478411
Quoted from PinballFever:Maybe you can do something similiar with your fun with pinball website?
I'd love to but sadly Steve's animation skills appear to far exceed my own... for now at least. 
Quoted from PinballFever:Maybe you can do something similiar with your fun with pinball website?
Maybe someone (you, PinballFever ?) can help
MarkG with the animation part of that admirable goal.
I struggle with graphics and animations. (I had to draw a rubber ring chart for my game by hand because I couldn't figure how to do it on the computer)
Steve Fury did a fantastic job with his videos. I've saved his youtube channel so I can watch them all.
2 months later
I wrote up an epilogue to the whole Tommy production pinball story. The games are safely back in collectors' hands. Read more at https://www.funwithpinball.com/resources/the-whos-tommy-part-3.
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